At least 2,158,171 electorate would vote in today’s governorship election in Anambra, which will go down as one of the most anticipated governorship elections in the history of Nigeria.

Blaring siren and the sound of roving helicopters have become common in the state in the wake of the governorship polls as 36 political parties field candidates for the ultimate position – which is the seat of the state executive.

Apart from the stiff competition in the election, there have been security threats.

There was palpable fear yesterday that the election could be marred by violence amid rumours of bomb blast in Onitsha.

The tension in the state was further exacerbated by the secessionist Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), through its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, who had earlier said unless the Nigerian State calls for a referendum to determine the status of the country, there would be no election in Anambra State.

Despite being labelled a terrorist organisation, members of IPOB staged a demonstration in Onitsha, the Anambra State capital, threatening voters not to participate in today’s election.

In his reaction, the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Operations, Mr. Joshak Habila, dismissed the threat by IPOB, insisting that the voters should come out and exercise their franchise without fear.

Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced the distribution of materials in the Registration Area Centres (RAC) across the 21 local government areas of the state.
The four major gladiators in the election are the All Progressive Grand Alliance’s Willie Obiano, who is the incumbent governors and the All Progressives Congress’s Tony Nwoye.

Others are bomb disposal specialists, as well as sniffer and attack dogs. Surveillance helicopters will monitor proceedings from the air, while there will be gunboats on the river Niger, plus 15 armoured personnel carriers and 303 patrol vehicles.

These measures are put in place to ensure a seamless election and also ensure any threat by IPOB is not carried out.

1 COMMENT

[…] end four decades of rule by a man once feted as an independence hero who became feared as a despot. Read: AnambraDecides2017: 36 Political Parties, Over 2,158,171 Electorate To Vote Amidst Tight Secur… Mnangagwa, whose sacking this month prompted the military takeover that forced Mugabe out, was […]